If you live in McLean, would you send your child to Potomac school?

[Anonymous]

Nah-I would say probably 50% va, 50% MD/DC combined. So at keast half but probably not more

[Anonymous]

Start in public. If you get AAP for elementary, stay in public elementary. If not, think about switching. By then you will have had 2-3 years (depending on where you do K) to evaluate if you like elementary.

[Anonymous]

This is a good strategy OP if you are looking to save $$ and/or want a neighborhood experience.

Keep in mind though that it's quite difficult to get into Potomac in 3rd grade (if your child doesn't make AAP) as its not an entry year. That means no new seats in 3rd are added (so you will be stuck for at least 3rd in your neighborhood public). We've known plenty of people who were 'banking' on Potomac later year entry (i.e. 1st, 2nd, 3rd) and it did not materialize.

In order to secure a 3rd grade slot in Potomac if AAP doesn't work out, you'd be betting on a Potomac 2nd grade family to transfer their child (unlikely unless a move), and that of all the applicants for that spot (including siblings) your child gets it. Those are not great odds.

If your child didn't make the cut for AAP likely his/her test scores were a factor in that screen. Potomac requires similar tests so your child will be competing with those who may have scored higher (it's not the only factor but when there are only a few slots, it does play a role).

As long as you would be ok potentially staying in public for a few years if your child doesn't get AAP, then you'd be good to try it out.

Of note- things open up for Potomac in 4th (it is an entry year with about 15-20 slots), but, it's also pretty competitive (and you are competing with siblings/alumni and some transfers from AAP with potentially high standardized test scores).

[Anonymous]

Our child completed elementary public school and was in the AAP program from 3-6. Transferred to Potomac in the 7th grade, an entry year. He scored very high on the NNAT in 1st grade so we were fairly confident that getting into AAP was not a problem (it wasn't). This afforded him the best of both worlds: growing up with his peers in the earlier years and smaller classes in later years when academics become much more challenging. He has retained friendships from his public school years and made new ones at Potomac. Highly recommend this path.